Candidate Training and Information
Local Government Victoria and the Victorian Electorate Commission require people to meet certain eligibility criteria in order to become a candidate in a council election. This includes undertaking a mandatory candidate training session provided by the Victorian Government. There are also a number of optional training opportunities to help candidates better prepare for the election campaign process.
Mandatory Candidate Training
All candidates in any council election in Victoria are required to complete the online Local Government Candidate Training. All candidates must also declare to the Victorian Electoral Committee (VEC) when they have completed the training in order to nominate.
The online Candidate Training is available to complete now on the Local Government Victoria website and takes around one hour to complete.
The candidate training – introduced in the Local Government Act 2020 – has been updated by Local Government Victoria to better equip and prepare candidates who are prospective first-term councillors. The training will help candidates understand the role of a councillor and what it requires before nominating. The training also serves as a refresher for more experienced councillors.
Candidate nominations for council elections will open on Monday 9 September and close at midday on Tuesday 17 September 2024 – so it’s a good idea for candidates to complete the training before nominations open.
It is not mandatory for those who have completed Candidate Training in the past two years to complete the training, however, Local Government Victoria strongly recommends that all candidates enrol for the updated training. This will refresh their understanding of the roles and responsibilities of councils and councillors, as well as the standards they are expected to uphold if elected.
Participants who complete the training will receive a certificate of completion.
The updated training includes information on:
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updated information on governance and integrity requirements including personal interest, conflicts of interest, confidentiality, and conduct expected of councillors
These topics will help ensure that candidates have a better understanding of the role of a councillor prior to standing.
The updated training complements the reforms introduced in the Local Government Amendment (Governance and Integrity) Act 2024 that will introduce a requirement for all councillors to complete professional development training as well as specific training for mayors and deputy mayors.
For more information on the Local Government Candidate Training visit localgovernment.vic.gov.au/council-governance/candidate-training.
Northern Grampians Pre-Election Candidate Sessions
Council will be hosting a series two online workshops as part of a Pre-Election Candidate Development Program. The program will be delivered by the Victorian Local Governance Association.
Through the sessions, council aims to prepare community members to stand as candidates in the upcoming election.
The Candidate Development Program will equip participants with the information, tools and knowledge they need when considering the role of a councillor and highlight the importance of this role in council’s delivery of positive outcomes for their community through high performance leadership and effective governance.
All sessions are free however bookings are essential. The session schedule and booking link can be found below.
Thursday 18 July - Becoming a Councillor
This introductory module covers all the foundations of becoming a councillor. Candidates will learn about their legal and regulatory obligations, participatory decision-making, the importance of Codes of Conduct and essential community leadership skills that promote and model good governance.
Time: 6.30pm - 8.30pm
Venue: Online
Register: Click here
Thursday 25 July - Life as a Woman Councillor
In this session, candidates will be provided with an opportunity to hear from previous women councillors about their experiences representing local community. From standing for office, to getting elected and serving as a councillor, the unique experiences of women will be shared in an informal and relaxed environment promoting discussion and sharing of ideas.
Time: 6.30pm - 8.30pm
Venue: Online
Register: Click here
MAV Stand for Council program
Council has partnered with the MAV to deliver the Stand for Council program to run information sessions for the community and prospective candidates for the 2024 council elections. You can attend these sessions either in-person or online and by attending one of these sessions, participants will be provided with information about:
- Local government and the important role councils play for our local communities
- The role and responsibility of a Councillor, Mayor, Deputy Mayor and CEO
- The election process and candidate requirements
- What newly elected councillors can expect soon after the elections
- Councillor training and development opportunities
The Northern Grampians session is being hosted by Hindmarsh Shire Council at Nhill on Wednesday 14 August 6.30pm-8.30pm. Please note that you may attend any of the sessions but will not be able to attend without registration. Click to register to attend a session here.
To support and encourage a range of diverse candidates the MAV will also be hosting a number of additional sessions for women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, people with disabilities, youth, culturally and linguistically diverse and LGBTIQA+ communities.
Registration issues or questions can be sent to standforcouncil@mav.asn.au
Additional Resources
In addition to the mandatory training and the optional information sessions detailed above, all prospective candidates are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the information available at the websites below to ensure their eligibility:
- Candidate handbook - Local council elections 2024 can be downloaded from here
Northern Grampians Shire Council is a multi-councillor ward structure, with a total of six councillors, three wards and two councillors per ward. The 3 wards in this electoral structure are Central Ward, Grampians Ward and Kara Kara Ward. The ward boundaries were recently reviewed by the VEC and updated by the Minister for Local Government. Click here to view the final report and updated ward map.
Prospective women candidates may also be interested in Pathways to Politics for Women and Women for Election Australia candidate training for women.